Can attachment



y 1934- 1.. w. RITTENHOUSE 1,965,356

CAN ATTACHMENT Filed May 20, 1953 INVENTOR L eon 14 Fitter/house" v I A ATTORNEY Patented July 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a can attachment, and having to do more particularly with a detachable device adapted to be temporarily clamped on a lubricating oil container, and is intended especially for use in garages and service stations where a sealed container holding a predetermined amount of lubricating oil is first punctured and then emptied into the oil filling opening of an engine.

A primary object of the invention is to afford a simple construction that can be manufactured at a low cost, and also to provide a practical device which can be quickly and tightly arranged on a can in proper position for pouring.

A further object of the improvement is to afford a device that will support the can while pouring and permit draining the entire contents, at the same time preventing leakage or spilling of any part of the oil.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevation showing the invention in its preferred embodiment applied to a conventional form of can;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view showing the clamping means and band released to permit removal of the device from the can;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation showing the clamping means in position for holding the band about the can;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the clamping means released, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the several views, 1 designates a metal container such as used for holding lubrieating oil and provided at its upper edge with a flange or rim 2, while 3 designates an opening that is punched in the top of the can by any suitable instrument when it is desired to empty the contents.

Such cans are furnished by oil producers in various sizes containing different quantities, and

when a customer desires a given amount of oil, the attendant, instead of measuring it, selects a sealed can containing the desired amount, punctures the can, and then empties it into the oil intake. To empty the can satisfactorily after it is punctured, the attachment of the invention can be instantly clamped on the container and enables readily draining the entire contents therefrom into an engine, during which operation the can of oil is supported by the attachment if desired.

The device as illustrated comprises a funnel member that includes an enlarged mouth or body portion 5 provided with an elongated neck or spout 6. The body portion 5 is formed to afford a shoulder portion '7 connecting the body with an offset curved wall 8 adapted to fit against the curved side of the container. When in the position as shown in Fig. 6, the curved wall 8 underlies the rim or fiange 2 and the shoulder '7 causes the lower or bottom portion of the body 5, when in pouring position, to lie substantially beneath the rim of the can so that there is little tendency for the oil to back up and leak between the curved wall 8 and the body of the can.

The funnel member is detachably held in sufficiently tight engagement with the can so as to permit the spout 6 to be inserted into an oil reservoir and to support the container of oil while it is emptying. This is brought about by means preferably comprising a band 9 that is fixedly attached to the curved wall 8 as by riveting, soldering, welding, or in any suitable way, the ends of the band being connected by clamping means at a point substantially opposite to the funnel member,

The band 9 is thus clamped to the can in such a way that every portion of the curved wall 8 hugs the can closely and is gripped tightly against the can. This is accomplished by a link 12, one end of which is pivotally connected to one end of the band 9 at 13 while the other end of the link 12 is pivotally connected at 14 to an actuating lever 15. The lever 15 is pivotally connected at 16 to the other end of the band 9. The link 12 is of such width that when lever 15 is closed to draw together the ends of the band, the sides of the link lie against the can body with the hinge connection 16 therebetween, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. This insures the band hugging the can body closely and gives a tighter clamping action. To release the device, the lever 15 is swung outwardly as in Fig. 3, permitting the ends of the band to separate.

The invention is not confined to the particular construction or uses herein disclosed, and this application is intended to cover such other modifications or departures as may come within the purposes of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A can attachment comprising a funnel member including a curved portion engageable with the curved side of a can, a band. connected to said curved portion, and clamping means connecting the ends of the band at a point substantially opposite to said funnel member; said clamping means comprising a link pivotally associated with one end of the band and a lever pivotally associated with the other end of the band and with one end of said link, the latter being of greater width than the pivotal connection between the lever and band so that the link and band may lie closely against the can body when in clamping position.

2. A can attachment comprising a funnel member having a tubular spout and a curved portion engageable with the curved side of a can, a canencircling band overlying and fixedly attached to said curved portion, and clamping means detachably connecting the ends of the band and operative to clamp the band and funnel member rigidly on the can.

3. A can attachment comprising a funnel member having a tubular spout and including a body portion, an offset curved portion engageable with the curved side of a can, a shoulder connecting said body portion and said offset curved portion, a can encircling band overlying and fixedly attached to said curved portion, and clamping means detachably connecting the ends of the band at a point substantially opposite to the funnel member and operative to clamp the band and funnel member rigidly on the can.

LEON W. RITTENI-IOUSE. 

